Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick: A Hollywood Love Story That Has Stood the Test of Time
A First Meeting Years Before Romance
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are both accomplished actors with celebrated careers, yet it is easy to overlook the fact that they have been married for more than three decades.
Their story began long before romance entered the picture.
Kyra was just 12 years old when she first met Kevin, who is seven years older than her. She had gone to see a movie with her brother, a film that starred Bacon, and briefly met him afterward.
At the time, it was nothing more than a passing encounter.
Reuniting on Set
Nearly ten years later, their paths crossed again, this time on the set of the television film “Lemon Sky.”
Despite their professional connection, Sedgwick later admitted that Bacon was not immediately her type.
“He definitely wasn’t my type. In fact, I vividly remember looking at his butt when he walked away after we first met and thinking, Well, I guess some girls like that,” Kyra admitted to Wide Open Country.
However, first impressions can change.
Their connection deepened, and they became engaged on Christmas Eve in 1987.
The following year, in 1988, they were married.
A Private Wedding and Growing Family
The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in Connecticut.
They later hosted a reception for 300 guests at the Manhattan club Au Bar, inviting only close friends and family to celebrate their union.
Shortly after their wedding, they welcomed their first child, Travis Sedgwick Bacon.
In 1992, their daughter, Sosie Ruth, was born.
Both children pursued creative careers of their own.
Sosie followed in her parents’ footsteps and gained recognition for her role as Skye Miller in the Netflix teenage drama “13 Reasons Why.”
Travis established himself as a solo musician and composed music for his parents’ film “Story of a Girl.”
A Lasting Marriage in Hollywood
More than three decades later, Kevin and Kyra continue to celebrate their enduring partnership.
Longevity in Hollywood relationships is often rare, making their decades-long marriage particularly noteworthy.
Reflecting on their early years together, Sedgwick once shared her disbelief at how quickly life unfolded.
“If someone had told me that at 22 I was going to meet the man I was going to marry and at 23 I would marry him and have a child, I would have told them they were out of their mind,” Kyra told Redbook in 2008.
Bacon frequently marks their wedding anniversary with public tributes, and both actors often share affectionate messages on social media.
Facing Challenges Together
While their romance appears strong, the couple has acknowledged that their journey has not been without difficulties.
Bacon once reflected on a challenging period in his life, noting how personal and professional highs and lows overlapped.
“The time I was hitting what I considered to be bottom was also the time I met my wife, our kids were born, good things were happening. And I was able to keep supporting myself; that always gave me strength”, Bacon told reporters.
One of their most significant setbacks occurred in 2008, when financier Bernie Madoff carried out what became known as the largest Ponzi scheme in history.
Reports have suggested that the couple lost substantial savings, with estimates ranging from $30 million to $100 million.
Despite the financial blow, they remained grounded.
“It was a bad day,” Bacon told The Guardian and continued: “But pretty quickly we were able to see all the things we had as opposed to whatever we lost, and those are the biggest cliches: children, health, love, a nice home. So we got through it together. I don’t think about Madoff, like, at all.”
An Unexpected Family Connection
In a surprising twist, Sedgwick discovered during an appearance on the U.S. television program “Finding Your Roots” that she and Bacon are ninth cousins, once removed.
A DNA test revealed their distant familial link.
Sedgwick admitted that she had long suspected a connection, saying she “knew it,” though she described the discovery as “a little unsettling.”
She added that she was relieved they were not closely related.
Further exploration of Bacon’s ancestry uncovered that King Edward I, known for battling William Wallace, was his 22nd great-grandfather.
Bacon reacted with humor, suggesting that his ancestry did not receive enough attention.
“I kind of felt like it was a joke at my expense, you know,” he said.
Life in Quarantine
During quarantine at their Los Angeles home, the couple had an opportunity to spend even more time together.
Sedgwick shared insights into how they filled their days.
“I’m doing a little writing, even though I truly don’t have any sense of whether or not I’m any good at it at all,” Kyra told People.
She added that they were watching shows, reading, and staying engaged creatively.
“It really is about just finding something to do. Certainly, I don’t spend time with my husband reading Shakespeare, but we’re watching a lot of stuff and we’re reading. We continue to read stuff. I continue to read. I’m trying to touch into my work on a daily basis, for sure.”
The Spark That Endures
Sedgwick has often spoken warmly about the qualities she admires in her husband.
“I don’t know how he does it, but he always makes me feel like I’m the most beautiful woman in the room – the only girl in the room,” Kyra told People.
She has also emphasized the importance of maintaining intimacy in their relationship.
“Sex is really important. That desire is there,” Sedgwick shared with Redbook in 2012.
Bacon has taken a humorous approach when asked to offer marital advice.
In a 2015 interview published in Entertainment Weekly, he said: “Whatever you do, don’t listen to celebrities on advice on how to stay married.”
Sedgwick once explained what continues to draw her to her husband.
“He is so honorable. He is so ethically true. He has high moral standards, and he doesn’t lie and he doesn’t cheat—and I find that sexy!” she said. “I am constantly in awe of Kevin’s levelheadedness and his lack of ‘crazy.’”
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A Partnership That Continues to Thrive
Through early doubts, career success, financial hardship, and unexpected revelations, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick have built a partnership that has endured for more than 34 years.
Their relationship reflects resilience, humor, and mutual respect.
In an industry often defined by change, their marriage stands as a rare example of long-term commitment.
Decades after first reconnecting on a film set, they continue to celebrate their life together, proving that lasting love can flourish even under the brightest spotlight.